THE DEPENDENCE OF ROTATIONALLY INELASTIC CROSS-SECTIONS ON THE PARAMETERS OF THE POTENTIAL

The dependence of cross-sections, sigma-(0 --> j), on the parameters of the intermolecular potential for rotational transitions in a diatomic molecule due to collision with an atom has been investigated. It is found that a 300% increase in the potential leads to only about 33% increase in the cross-sections. It is explained on the basis of the importance of the torque at the classical turning point, range of the potential and the collision time.